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German children flee through devastated homeland at end of WWII in potent LOREWhen their Nazi parents are arrested at the chaotic close of WWII, five German siblings set off on a difficult journey through a devastated landscape to their grandmother’s house in distant Hamburg. Stunned by Hitler’s defeat, and suddenly poor and hungry, the children no longer know whom to trust or what to believe. Cate (SOMERSAULT) Shortland’s second feature LORE is a tense and lyrical coming-of-age story unlike any other, as well as one of the best-reviewed foreign films of the year. Catch the exclusive Cleveland premiere of this German/Australian co-production on Friday or Saturday in a 35mm print with English subtitles.

Abbie Cornish gives Oscar-worthy performance in Tex/Mex drama THE GIRLAn unfit but feisty Texas single mother whose son is in foster care decides to start smuggling immigrants across the Mexico/U.S. border. In the process, she becomes the unwitting custodian of a six-year-old Mexican child. Abbie Cornish stars in THE GIRL, the touching new film from David Riker, director of the superb 1998 NYC-set immigrant drama LA CIUDAD and co-writer of 2008"s SLEEP DEALER. Catch the movie's exclusive Cleveland premiere on Friday or Saturday. Print this email and present it at the box office and see THE GIRL for only $7 ($6 if you're a Cinematheque member). It's our Deal of the Week. (Limit two discount admissions per print-out) Here's the trailer.

Ozu series concludes with rarely-shown 1957 family drama TOKYO TWILIGHTChishu Ryu, Setsuko Hara, and Isuzu Yamada star in Yasujiro Ozu’s intense 1957 family saga TOKYO TWILIGHT, one of the Japanese master's longest, harshest, and most melodramatic films. The movie focuses on two grown daughters—one unhappily married with a child, the other in an affair that leaves her pregnant—who are living with their single father. Their sad lives are further shattered by stunning revelations about their mother. See this rarely shown work by one of the all-time great filmmakers in 35mm on Friday or Saturday.

Fishing boat doc LEVIATHAN shows tonight (5/21) at the Capitol TheatreLife aboard a New England commercial fishing vessel on the roiling sea is vividly, indelibly captured in the engulfing new film LEVIATHAN, one of the most acclaimed and visceral films of the year. Here's a movie, like LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, that deserves to be seen and experienced on the big screen. And tonight at 7 pm at the Capitol Theatre, 1390 W. 65th St. at Detroit Ave., it will be. Regular admission prices apply but no passes, twofers, or radio winners and no Cleveland Cinemas passes or discounts will be honored. If prone to sea-sickness, bring Dramamine! Watch the trailer here.

Two concurrent comedy series on Buster Keaton, Pierre Étaix begin next weekendTwo comedy film series—one featuring the newly rediscovered work of French comic and clown Pierre Étaix, the other focusing on the two-reel silent shorts that Buster Keaton made before he turned to features—will unspool between May 31 and June 28. “Pierre Étaix: The Lost Laugh,” consisting of eight films in five different programs, will run from May 31 through June 27, while “Buster Keaton’s Two-Reel Comedies,” featuring 19 shorts in five different programs, will run from May 31 through June 28.

Pierre Étaix (b. 1928) got his start in music halls and eventually landed a job as illustrator and gag writer for Jacques Tati. He was Assistant Director on Tati’s Oscar-winning 1958 comedy MON ONCLE, and a few years later won his own Oscar for a 1962 comedy short entitled "Happy Anniversary" that he starred in, co-wrote, and co-directed. The success of this movie and other shorts allowed him to move on to directing (and acting in) comedy features throughout the 1960s. Like the great Tati, Étaix made films that were mostly wordless (he loved silent cinema and the circus), though they often boasted memorable sound effects. His inventive pantomime, sophisticated slapstick, surreal gags, and gentle, put-upon persona prompted some to liken him to Buster Keaton.

Unfortunately, due to longstanding legal entanglements, Étaix’s classic comedies were out of circulation for over two decades. This is one reason he has been largely forgotten. Happily, that situation is now resolved. Eight of Étaix’s best shorts and features have been fully restored and re-released.

Unlike Pierre Étaix, America’s silent-screen clown Buster Keaton has long been well known. But he is most famous for such comedy features as THE GENERAL, THE NAVIGATOR, and SHERLOCK, JR., all of which he also directed. But before he transitioned to full-length films, Keaton starred in and directed 19 two-reel comedies between 1920 and 1923. These 20-minute movies are as funny and inventive as Keaton’s longer masterpieces and include some of his greatest single achievements ("One Week," "Cops," "The Boat"). This is the first time the Cinematheque has shown all of these Keaton shorts, and all will be seen in 35mm prints with music tracks.

This Week

Tue., May 21, at 7:00pmSpecial Offsite Event!The Cinematheque at the Capitol TheatreLEVIATHANShown at 1390 W. 65th St.

Fri., May 24, at 5:30pmSat., May 25, at 7:40pmAbbie Cornish inTex/Mex dramaTHE GIRL

Fri., May 24, at 7:25pmSat., May 25, at 9:35pmAcclaimed end-of-WWII dramaLORE

Fri., May 24, at 9:35pmSat, May 25, at 5:00pmYasujiro Ozu'sTOKYO TWILIGHT (1957)

Next Week

Thu., May 30, at 7:00pmSun., June 2, at 10:00amMShown at the Capitol Theatre,W. 65th & Detroit Ave.

Fri., May 31, at 5:15pmSat., June 1, at 7:00pmLE GRAND AMOUR (THE GREAT LOVE)

Fri., May 31, at 7:20pmSat., June 1, at 5:15pmBUSTER KEATON'S TWO-REEL COMEDIES, PROGRAM 1

Fri., May 31, at 9:00pmSat., June 1, at 9:00pmTHE GHASTLY LOVE OF JOHNNY X